Union inaugurates Legal Desk in South Africa

The Nigerian community in South Africa says it has set up a legal desk to provide free legal services to members in that country.

Adetola Olubajo, the President, Nigeria Union in South Africa, said at the inauguration of newly elected officers of the union in Pretoria that the desk would be headed by a practicing lawyer.

“We want Nigerians in South Africa to have free legal services, led by a qualified and practicing lawyer,” the union’s Secretary-General, Emeka Ezinteje, said in a statement.

Other bodies inaugurated by the union as part of its programmes are National Help Desk, Hotlines, Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Programme.

Olubajo stressed the importance of peace and unity among the various Nigerian communities in South Africa.

He said: “Unity of purpose is the key to every sustainable development. Continuous progress can only be achieved in a peaceful environment.”

The President also stressed the importance of using the legal mechanism of South Africa.

Ogboro Omoh, the Legal Officer of the union, said services of the desk were free and urged Nigerians to contact it to seek redress.

The immediate past President of the union, Ikechukwu Anyene, was honoured with a Grand Patron award.

Other Nigerians in South Africa honoured as patrons were Prof. Olalekan Ayo-Yusuf, Dr. Benson Okoli, Dr. Sola Irinoye, Dr. Babatunde Ilori, Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma, Chief Anayo Iwgilo, Chief Benson Nwaogwugwu and Chief Charles Iguwa.

Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Ahmed Musa Ibeto, was represented by Zachariah Ifu, the Minister-in-Charge of consular matters at the High Commission; Ibrahim Nayaya, the Head of the Chancery at the consulate, represented the Consul General, Godwin Adama.